Protector for nursing mothers



March Z 1948.

M. M. STEVENS PROTECTOR FOR NURSING MOTHERS Filed Dec. 26, 1945 Patented Mar. 2, 1 948 UNITED" STATE rnorao'roa Foa NURSING Mo'rnEas I Marie M. Stevens, Chicago, Ill. Application December 26, 1945, seria no. 639,233",

2 Claims. (01. 2-42) My invention which relates to a breast protector for nursing mothers is adapted to be supported as by straps passing over the shoulders, or in any appropriate way within a brassire or other garment. When so worn, it furnishes for the breasts a protector in the nature of a closely held shield which is form-fitting, moisture-proof, and sanitary. In addition, the protector may be conveniently lifted or shifted to accommodate a nursing child, and, when desired, may be washed without detriment with the aid of soap for repeated and extended use. These and other benefits and advantages may be realized from the protector of my invention of which a suggestive embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a front-side perspective view of the protector with the supporting straps extended outwardly somewhat as when in use;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows one of the blanks from which the protector body is formed; and

Fig. 4 shows the blank folded to produce a triangular plait extending upwardly from its base edge.

The protector in its entirety comprises a pair of companion cupped shields S each of generally triangular shape with aligned horizontal bases; the slightly outwardly bowed sides of each shield are bound as with tapes 10 which at their upper ends join together for connection with the forward end of an elastic shoulder strap ll whose rear end unites with an elastic body strap I2 adapted to pass around the wearers body to join at the front with the bases of the two shields, all as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The ends of the body strap are provided with coacting fastening elements I4 and I5 whereby they may be secured together at the wearer's back when the protector is worn. The two shields may also be interconnectedat a point remote from their bases, as by a short elastic web [8 whose ends are joined to the tape binding along the proximate arched sides. A protector answering to this general description may be worn with comfort during both day and nighttime, the body straps in particular serving to. hold the device in place when a sleeping posture is assumed.

A feature of special merit is the construction of each shield. As already suggested, the material chosen may and should be moisture-proof, sanitary and form-fitting. For this purpose Pearlon" is recommended as satisfactory. This is a synthetic resinous material having the properties noted, and in addition is light, strong,

translucent, and susceptible of being washed repeatedly. It also has sufficient body to take and hold one or more creases, but without breaking or cracking, whereby to facilitate its being cupped when produced from a blank such as is illustrated in Fig. 3. Here it will be noted the side edges a and b of the blank are outwardly bowed; from an apex c at the top where they meet, the side edges diverge outwardly through substantially equal distances to join with a base edge consisting of two sections d and e which meet in wide angular relation at about the center of the base.

The blank is given a. fold along its vertical center, as indicated by the broken line (see Fig. 3 In addition, a second but reverse told is later made along a line 9 extending angularly therefrom whereby to pre-form a triangular plait 2! whose apex h is slightly below the shield center.

In the completed protector puckers or wrinkles 22 are formed across the strap binding l2 which extends along and is secured to the base edge of each shield; these puckers or wrinkles extend also into the shield itself. The outwardly projecting center fold, along the line I becomes a crease which in its lower region is reversely folded where it extends angularly to one side oppositely of the second and reverse fold line g. The shield material in its lower region is also gathered, in consequence, thereby conducing to its assumption and maintenance of a cup form which is one of the objectives sought. The elastic strap which is connected to the plait as well, is relaxed when the shield base is puckered, and tensioned when the puckers are expanded. The strap accordingly serves to promote and maintain cupping of the shield, but may yield, nevertheless, whenever there is any occasion for the shield form to undergo change, as when the protector is slipped over, on, or off the breas I claim:

1. A breast protector having a pair of connected approximately triangular shields each having 2. A breast protector having a pair of connected shields each being formed from a blank of substantially triangular shape with its apex at the top and having an outward crease extending from the top to the bottom of the shield with a second reversely bent crease diverging angularly from the first crease at a point in the medial region of the shield, the triangular area between the two creases being folded inwardly and having overlapped .porttons forming a substantially triangular plait, said shield being gathered and contracted at the bottom and the shield being outwardly cupped with its outermost points substantially at the juncture of the two creases, and an elastic binding along the bottom of the shield connected thereto to maintain the material thereof normally in a gathered state.

MARIE M. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 5 file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lowman Jan. 7, 1919 Pruzan Feb. 28, 1922 Whippy Oct. 8, 1929 Pons Mar. 31, 1931 Blum June 26, 1945 Davis June 19, 1923 

